Coughlin not ready to give up on Wilson

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Coughlin isn't ready to give up on Giants running back David Wilson.

The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Coughlin isn't ready to give up on Giants running back David Wilson.

Wilson is certainly in Coughlin's doghouse once again after fumbling twice and having one returned for a touchdown in the Giants' six-turnover, 36-31 season-opening loss to the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Wilson, a 2012 first-round pick, was benched in the second half, and much of Coughlin's conference call Monday centered on the state of the running game, whether Wilson would start this weekend against Denver, or if the coach was thinking of signing former Giant Brandon Jacobs.

A seemingly relaxed Coughlin refused to discuss his starting lineup, noting the team needs Wilson.

Jacobs played for the Giants from 2005-11. He signed with San Francisco for the 2012 season and was released late in the year. Jacobs and Willis McGahee are expected to work out for the Giants on Tuesday.

"David Wilson is a very talented young man, who we need to be productive," Coughlin said. "We have been down this road before. We can help him be a better ball carrier, a better secure ball carrier."

Coughlin spoke with Wilson after the team watched films of the game and said his second-year back is anxious to improve. He expects to see it, too.

"We need him," Coughlin said.

Wilson has been through this before. He fumbled against Dallas on his first carry last season and landed on the bench. He eventually proved to be an outstanding kickoff returner and that helped him get back into the running back rotation, averaging 5.0 yards on 71 carries.

The problem has resurfaced. Wilson fumbled deep in Dallas territory on the Giants' second possession, and he lost one early in the third quarter that was returned 27 yards for a touchdown by Barry Church.

"We did preach so much about them being ball strippers and somehow, some way that didn't sink in," Coughlin said. "He had the ball stripped twice. He'll learn from it. He has great pride and we'll try to get this under control."

The difference a year ago was that Wilson was Ahmad Bradshaw's backup and the Giants could afford to sit Wilson. Bradshaw was let go after last season, so Wilson is the man this year, and there isn't much behind him.

His backup, Andre Brown, is on recallable injured reserve with a broken left leg, leaving untested Da'Rel Scott and rookie Michael Cox as the backups.

Scott did OK after replacing Wilson. However, he didn't react to a screen call late in the game with the Giants near midfield and down six points. Eli Manning's pass hit off his arm and was returned 49 yards for a clinching touchdown by Brandon Carr.